How does SSH connection to virtual machines work?

SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol for securely connecting to remote machines, including virtual ones. When connecting via SSH, the client establishes an encrypted connection with the server using a pair of keys (private and public) or a password.

The process of connecting via SSH to a virtual machine typically involves the following steps:

1. The client initiates a connection to the virtual machine's IP address on port 22 (default).
2. The server sends its public key for authentication.
3. The client verifies the server's key (e.g., through known_hosts).
4. The client authenticates using a password or a key.
5. After successful authentication, an encrypted channel is established, through which commands can be executed, files transferred, etc.

Example of connection:

ssh user@vm-ip-address

For convenience, SSH keys are often used to avoid entering a password each time, and port forwarding and tunneling can also be configured.